Science for Society Gold Medals
ASSAf annually awards up to two ASSAf Science-for-Society Gold Medals for outstanding achievement in scientific thinking for the benefit of society. In 2008, Gold Medals were presented to Professors Michael Samways and Michael Wingfield. Previous recipients are:

Special Gold Medals
The Academy has introduced a special Gold Medal award for Outstanding Meritorious Service and in 2008 this was awarded to Prof Wieland Gevers, former President and Executive Officer of ASSAf.

Sydney Brenner Fellowship
Dr Sydney Brenner donated a portion of his 2002 Nobel Prize to ASSAf to permit ASSAf (in partnership with the USNAS) to offer a prestigious Postdoctoral Fellowship for research to be undertaken in South Africa over two years by an outstanding young scientist. Dr Brenner mentors the Fellows during and after tenure of the Fellowship. The Oppenheimer Memorial Trust has donated funds for a second Fellowship. ASSAf bears the administrative costs and supplements the stipends to ensure the success of the scheme.

In 2008/09 the Academy awarded the prestigious Sydney Brenner Fellowships to two women scientists from the University of Cape Town (UCT). Dr Zenda Woodman of the Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine at UCT is investigating the role of the envelope (surface) protein of HIV-1 in determining the ‘fitness’ of different strains for transmission and disease progression. The work could result in new HIV inhibitor drugs and different approaches to vaccine development. The head of her laboratory and sponsor is Prof Carolyn Williamson. Dr Shaheen Mowla of the Department of Human Biology at UCT is investigating the role of a specific gene-regulating factor called the ‘T-box transcription factor Tbx3’ in embryonic development and various cancers, including identifying its target genes and signalling pathways. The protein is already known to play a very important role in the development of the limbs, heart and mammary glands in many species.

TWAS Young Scientist
The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World, formerly known as the Third World Academy of Science (TWAS), aims to promote scientific capacity and excellence for sustainable development and growth in the South. One of its many programmes is the TWAS Prize for Young Scientists, which is a national award made annually to young scientists who have made outstanding contributions in scientific research within specific developing countries. This annual award is given to an outstanding researcher under the age of forty, living and working in South Africa, who is evaluated on the criteria of research excellence, the potential value of the research to society, the success of the candidate in the development of students, and his or her success in contributing to the public understanding of science and technology. The TWAS Prize for Young Scientists in South Africa is managed by ASSAf, on behalf of its partners, TWAS and the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

Im 2008 the TWAS Prize for Young Scientists in Developing Countries has been awarded to 34-year-old Associate Professor of Physics at North-West University, Professor Stefan Ferreira.